News Briefs

Related Media

The Garfield School District Re-2 will begin kindergarten registration at its six elementary schools on the following dates:

Graham Mesa Elementary, Rifle, 4-7 p.m. Wednesday, April 11

Highland Elementary, Rifle, 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 12

Kathryn Senor Elementary, New Castle, 6-7:30 p.m. Tuesday,

April 17

Elk Creek Elementary, New Castle, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 18

Wamsley Elementary, Rifle, 4-6 p.m. Thursday, April 19

Cactus Valley Elementary, Silt, 3:30-5:30 p.m. Monday, April 26

Children must be age 5 by Oct. 1, 2012, to be enrolled in kindergarten for the 2012-2013 school year.

When attending kindergarten registration, parents should bring the child's birth certificate, immunization records and social security card for the child if they have one.

Kindergarten children must be immunized for DTP, polio, measles, mumps, rubella, HIB, Hep-B and varicella.

Parents who are unable to attend kindergarten registration can call the school to schedule a better time to complete the necessary paperwork.

From Monday, April 2, through Friday, April 6, Colorado Department of Transportation maintenance crews will repair a cattle guard on the connector road for the I-70 Exit 93, Mamm Creek interchange, south-side ramps. Motorists will need to use an alternate route from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. those days. The cattle guard runs across the interchange connection to County Roads 246 and 315. Those wanting to access these roads during project work hours will need to do so from either the Silt or Rifle interchanges.

RIFLE, Colorado - Todd Chamberlain, president of the company that has been known as Todd's Welding, 815 W. Second St. in Rifle, announced a new name for the company and new service certifications. The company's new name is TWI Oilfield Fabrication, although it will remain registered under the Todd's Welding name.

TWI has earned "U" Stamp certification and accreditation from the American Society of Mechanical Engineers for the manufacture of pressure vessels, and "R" Stamp certification from the National Board of Boiler and Pressure Vessel Inspectors for the repair and alteration of boilers, pressure vessels, and other pressure-retaining items.

RIFLE, Colorado - The U.S. Forest Service is seeking office volunteers for its Rifle Ranger District Office, 94 County Road 244, in Rifle. To volunteer, call Jason at 625-2371.

DENVER, Colorado - The U.S. Bureau of Land Management Colorado state office is unveiling a new website to highlight its quarterly oil and natural gas lease sales.

The new pages will list upcoming oil and gas lease sales and outline a process for commenting on those sales. The BLM has always posted this information online. The new website provides a centralized location that is easier to navigate.

"The new website provides all the information required as part of oil and natural gas leasing reform in one place," said Lonnie Bagley, BLM deputy state director for energy, lands and minerals.

For the 15th straight year, the Feinstein Foundation is conducting its annual campaign to fight hunger in America. Allen Shawn Feinstein of Rhode Island is offering $1 million to hunger fighting organizations such as LIFT-UP, based upon the amount of money and food they raise in March and April.

Every dollar or food item donated to LIFT-UP by April 30 will be eligible for additional funding from the Feinstein Foundation, up to a maximum award of $35,000.

"The needs are just as pressing at this time of year," said Mike Powell, executive director of LIFT-UP. About 2,500 people per month are receiving assistance from LIFT-UP's seven area food pantries, and The Extended Table Soup Kitchen is serving more than 1,100 meals each month, he said.

The Feinstein Challenge encourages support for local organizations that are tackling hunger. Last year the Feinstein Challenge prompted close to $250 million in giving to more than 2,000 hunger-fighting agencies nationwide.

Monetary donations may be made online at www.liftup.org or sent to P.O. Box 1928, Rifle, CO. 81650. Nonperishable food items may be dropped off at any LIFT-UP food pantry from Parachute to Carbondale.

DENVER, Colorado - Xcel Energy in Colorado says it will decrease second quarter 2012 natural gas bills and electric bills, the result of lower costs associated with fuel and purchased energy.

If approved by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), residential and small-business customer electric bills will decrease by 7 percent compared to the same period one year ago.

Also pending before the CPUC is the company's Gas Cost Adjustment (GCA) for the second quarter of 2012. It would reduce bills by approximately 13-15 percent for residential and small-business customers, when compared to the second quarter of 2011. Natural gas bills are compared on an annual basis to reflect seasonal use. If approved, new rates would go into effect April 1.